Worn by Sarah Jessica Parker (who was at the show tonight), and other hot celebrities; Halston is one designer that knows how to set trends. Despite the down pour the show went on and the audience was packed at Gladstone’s Gallery in New York. Halston showed off their designs and fresh, natural look for this season. I went backstage for Beautysweetspot to get all the tricks of the trade in creating what the pros called – the perfect natural look.
Inspired by the 1960’s and 70’s, MAC’s head makeup artist, Amora, shares a few secrets in creating a “no makeup” look. The team dabbled on foundation with a brush in a circular motion to polish the skin while giving it great coverage. For a natural flush, Amora applied blush with her fingers in the center of the models cheek. The eyes lashes were absolutely amazing, and I found out the secret is to make sure the mascara’s brush is spikier and rubbery, similar to a comb. To get these lashes apply lots of product and separate the lashes one by one with brush. To do this take the mascara brush and bend up in layers to separate and lengthen. To complete the natural look, skip the eye liner.
Every girl knows that hair is the most important accessory worn with any outfit. Head hairstylist, Bob Recine and the Barex Style Team had two looks for the models at this year’s show. First, they started with Barex Gloss Strong Hold Mousse, which was applied to damp hair for added volume. The hair was then center parted and blow dried straight. Their bangs were pinned back creating a “V” shape to help... avoid lift. The look was completed by using Barex Gloss Hairspray to make sure all the strands stayed perfectly in place.
The second look was a sophisticated bun. The bun was created by first having two pig tails. Recine created the look by twisting the pig tails back and forth like a figure eight. He then used bobby pins to hold it in place.
Lead by Pattie Yankee, Dashing Diva once again proved they owned the runways – opting for a natural look that wouldn't clash with the designs. Two coats of the shade East River View was applied on light skinned models and one coat of Chelsie in the Buff on darker skinned models. Halston’s look this season of natural, fresh, makeup, hair, and nails is perfect for any woman to wear to work, running errands, or simply having brunch on Sundays.
Known for his contemporary clothes that easily transition from day to night, Walter Baker is certainly a force in the fashion industry. The models sported a surprisingly laid back and unfussy look.
Lead Sebastian stylist, Janine Jarman, opted for a very clean and healthy look. All of the girls wore their hair down, with a simple, middle part tucked behind their ears. (She gently put one mini bobby pin right by the ears to make sure that the hair remained in place). “It’s a juxtaposition with the collection, which is a bit more fun and undone, and a mix of fabrics, textures, and colors,” Jarman said of the look. Prior to blow drying, she sprayed Volupt, a new Sebastian volumizer from the roots to ends. The goal was to get maximum volume, but still have it be touchable, so it didn’t appear that there was anything holding up the hair. “It’s funny, some of the easier looks take a bit more work so that they can look effortless,” Jarman remarked.
Peredis used products from his own collection including Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer, Boudior Mist Spray Foundation, Barely Blushing- Barely Rouge lip finish, and Mesmer-Eyes Mascara.
I was actually giddy to attend the spring 2011 presentation of the real designer behind Eleanor Waldorf’s creations on Gossip Girl. Since the start of the hit CW show, Abigail Lorick has successfully carved a name for herself in the fashion industry, being widely recognized for her girly garments that have very clean and tailored silhouettes. I was really excited to see what this former model envisioned for her own models to look like wearing her latest Lorick collection.
I first went backstage at the intimate Tela Tea Room studio to talk to the show’s lead on hair, Jeffrey Rice of Philip Pelusi Salons, who was busy perfecting a low, messy bun on one of the models. The look is “very soft, easy, and breezy…almost like the models did it themselves – casual, yet put together.”
The key to the makeup was highlighting the skin and lead makeup artist, Deanna Melluso of Temptu, kept it minimal enhancing the models natural features. A light dewy mouth and a generous amount of Temptu's Peony blush on the apples of the cheeks (but not clownish at all) was all that was needed. A
Backstage at The Academy of the Art University in Lincoln Center I discovered one makeup tip that was well worth doing a whole post around! Let's just say it's very BeautySweetSpot! This one focuses all on the lips so pay attention and pucker up!
The models were sporting imperfectly done perfect lips and makeup artist, Janessa Pare' of Aveda, taught me how to make your lipstick look like it was just kissed off. Her key product: Aveda's Lip Glaze in Raspberry Tea. MWAH! Check it out:
Back at Milk Studios today the scene was surprisingly calm and well organized for the Costello Tagliapietra show. With 23 models coming from prior shows who needed to be molded into the Costello girl, stylists and artists were busy at work, but seemed anything but frantic.
All of the girls wore high side buns directly above their left ears. "It's a throwback," commented Nelson Vercher, the lead stylist from the Rita Hazan Salon. "Back in the day ladies used to wear their hair like this when they wore hats." He used Phytovolume Actif Maximizing Volume Spray to create texture, but then just a piece of elastic to secure the ponytail that he wrapped and tied, wrapped 
and tied about three times and cut the ends. It's definitely not practical for the every day girl, but a sweet backstage trick. After looping the hair around itself he secured with bobby pins and sprayed with L'Oreal Elnett Hair Spray.
and keep your skin dewy. On other areas (like your chin) that may need heavier coverage, go heavier with the foundation and don't mix in the moisturizer. The key is to layer lightly.
My first trip to Fashion Week's new home at Lincoln Center was for the Farah Angsana show. Skeptical at first, I felt more welcomed than I thought I would as I pulled up in a cab on the upper west side to fashionistas gathering around the fountain. It felt like home. Bye, bye Bryant Park, everyone was here.
Nineteen models were made up with soft metallic lids and romantic curls. "Farah's obsessed with J.Lo," commented Gregg Hubbard the lead makeup artist for Cristo. "Everything needs to be about the J.Lo glow!" And in a way, it was – the eyes at least. The bronzed eye was created with Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow in Gold Stone, which is a great base and layerable as a shadow. The lip? A coral gloss.
Dashing Diva's lead manicurist Pattie Yankee did full mani's and pedi's on the ladies with No More Alimony, a shiny nude metallic shade. One model fell asleep while getting her hair done at the same time of her mani and pedi!
Beach chic sums up Mara Hoffman's Spring/Summer 2011 collection and the hair and makeup effortlessly complimented the style. Fedoras, sunglasses, bright patterns, dewy skin and bohemian hair were spotted on the catwalk at Pier 59 studio.
"Even though they're all wearing the same look, the model's are all so racially diverse, they bring their own individuality it," stated Lottie, Makeup Forever's lead makeup artist. She kept it clean using Makeup Forever's HD Foundation and Sculpting Kit around the cheeks and left the lips natural. The secret to a dewy complexion? The beauty blender!
Three different hair 'do's were created on the 15 models by Martin-Christopher Harper for Redken and Cutler. The inspiration: A woman on the Caymen Islands just coming from a leisurely day at the beach. It was a look we can all relate to, very organic. From texturized high buns to buns at the nape of the neck and loose waves all of the women had the same theme. The key to mastering the beachy look is texture, texture, texture. Try Cutler Volumizing Specializing Spray and mist it from your root to mid shaft and blow dry directly over your head from the front with your hands.
